Loose Change: 4/23/09

By

Mary Pilon

Apr 23, 2009 7:59 am ET

Personal Finance:
-First-time home buyers and investors are now fighting over foreclosed homes. [WSJ]
-Continuing with the Earth Day theme, here’s how you can optimize your finances and help save the planet. [ConsumerReports]
-The worst credit-card offers out there. [RedTapeChronicles]

Investing:
-California used federal subsidies to issue $5 billion in debt, but not all is smooth for municipal bond issuers. [WSJ]
-The demand for oil and related investments slides. [SeekingAlpha]
-Morningstar released reviews of 529 college savings plans. The downturn has sure heightened the flaws. [WSJ]

Other Lint:
-Cup stacking! All the kids are doing it these days! [WSJ]
-A tax attorney is identified as one of California’s top 250 tax deadbeats. [TaxProf]
-Some small business owners are still hitting walls when trying to get a bank loan. But there are some other ways to get cash. [WiseBread]
-Good news: The Chapter 13 bankruptcy rate was sharply down last month. [CreditSlips]

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